Representing Airdrie & Shotts
By karen
Labour’s debate on local newspapers in the Scottish Parliament yesterday was a victory for local democracy. At present local authorities must advertise public information notices in newspapers, predominantly local newspapers. The Government has plans to remove this duty and allow councils to advertise these notices only on web sites.
On the face of it this might seem like a reasonable policy and a good way to save public money. However, the cost to local democracy and to local newspapers would be very high.
At present, many people will find public notices which affect them, as they read through their local newspaper. The Government’s proposal, would mean that this information would only be available to those who actively look for it online.
In addition, the removal of the income that public notices provide to local newspapers would have a serious – possibly terminal – effect on many local papers.
The debate can be found here.
By karen
Just had a wonderful, entertaining Burns Supper with the pupils and staff of St David’s Primary in Plains. The quality of the performances by the pupils was incredible. Well done to them all.
By karen
I was delighted to attend the recent launch of the NLC Youth Strategy, ‘Going the Extra Mile’ at the @Home Centre in Airdrie. The centre has been the hub of a broad range of youth services and resources in Airdrie for a number of years and there really couldn’t have been a more suitable venue for the launch of NLC’s Youth Strategy.
Young people were at the heart of the development of the strategy and it makes clear the Council’s commitment to meaningful and lasting engagement with the young people of North Lanarkshire.
By karen
Today I had the pleasure of joining pupils and staff at Victoria Primary School in Airdrie for their Burns Day celebrations.
The celebrations included the whole school and I was very impressed with the performances, from pupils of all ages, including a very thoughtful and entertaining “Burns -This is Your Life”.
It was lovely to see the whole school involved and the children seemed to enjoy the opportunity to sample the traditional Burns Day menu of haggis, neeps and tatties.
By karen
Today the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee is continuing to take evidence in its inquiry into the problems facing Scotland’s local newspaper industry.
Local newspapers make a vital contribution to local communities but there is real concern that moves to remove local authority and Scottish Government advertising will weaken the financial viability of local papers, as well as undermine the local service they provide.
This could mean that public notices, such as road closures, changes to bin collections and alterations to public transport, would be published online instead of in the local paper.
Many of these announcements affect our everyday lives and services and I know this will be a big concern for many people in Airdrie and Shotts, who rely on local newspapers and value the service they provide to the community.
By karen
I was delighted to be invited to the 10th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Getting Better Together (GBT) healthy living centre in Shotts last Friday. The event was marked by the attendence of a very special guest, HRH The Princess Anne.
I have to say that I was very impressed by the time that Princess Anne took to speak with all of the volunteers and members of the Getting Better Together project. She clearly had done her homework and knew a remarkable amount about the history of the project.
Over the years GBT has provided a wide range of health related services to the people of Shotts and the surrounding villages. This has included various youth activity programmes, a food co-op and a very well used lunch club.
The success of the project is down to the hard work and determination of both the staff and the volunteers. I know that the project will continue to go from strength to strength.
By karen
This morning I participated in a debate on the Literacy Commission and during my speech I highlighted the excellent work being done by North Lanarkshire Council in promoting active literacy projects in our schools.
I was so impressed by the outstanding result achieved by staff and pupils at St Brigid’s Primary, in Newmains, that I have tabled a parliamentary motion congratulating them on their success. St Brigid’s has piloted the Active Literacy programme for pupils with additional support needs and was recently praised by HMIE for its literacy work. This work has resulted significant improvements in national test results. Reading levels have improved from 89% in 2006 to 93.4% in 2008. Writing from 66% in 2006 to 85.8% in 2008 and mathematics results improving from 72% in 2007 to 91.5% in 2008.
These are dramatic and impressive improvements and I hope that schools across Scotland can learn from St Brigid’s success and the innovative approach being followed by North Lanarkshire Council. Early intervention really is key to tackling Scotland’s literacy problems and ensuring that in future, every child leaves primary school able to read, write and count.
By karen
I’m pleased to report that Hugh Henry’s Bill to give workers in Scotland greater protection has received the cross party support from MSPs needed to progress to the next stage.
The Workers (Aggravated Offences) Bill had already received strong support from trade unions, transport bodies, local councils and individual workers across the country. I ran my own survey in Airdrie & Shotts last summer and there was overwhelmingly support for the proposed Bill. Many responses were from public transport workers facing daily abuse.
The Bill will give much needed added protection to workers who have face to face contact with the public. People committing offences under the new Bill could be jailed for up to 12 months and fined up to £10,000, although I know many constituents who responded to my survey favoured even tougher sentences.
There is no excuse for attacking a worker who is simply carrying out their job - abuse, intimidation, threats and violence against workers are unacceptable.
I hope that the Bill continues to recieve the support needed to enable it to become law so that in future, workers in Scotland will receive the protection they deserve.
By karen
I am backing a campaign for grants to allow householders in Airdrie and Shotts to replace their old boilers. Householders in England are to get £400 towards the cost of a new energy efficient boiler but the Scottish Government have said that a similar scheme will not operate in Scotland.
Replacing an inefficient boiler could save the average household £230 a year, as well as helping reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
I receive regular calls from constituents concerned about the high cost of have their boiler replaced. Many have heard about the scrappage scheme and can’t understand why it won’t be operating in Scotland.
A scrappage scheme would make a huge difference to thousands of householders in Airdrie & Shotts and across Scotland, as well as providing a much needed boost to our plumbing industry. I hope that the Scottish Government will reconsider their decision and enable households in Scotland to access this valuable scheme.
By karen
I am very disappointed that a Member’s Bill proposed by my colleague, Charlie Gordon MSP, on Regulation of Bus Services, has failed to receive the necessary cross-party support needed for it to proceed.
The Bill would have made a huge difference to bus travellers in Scotland, allowing community transport to accept free bus passes, extending the concessionary travel scheme to people on lower rate Disability Living Allowance and generally starting to make our bus service fit for the 21st century.
I am regularly contacted my constituents facing real problems accessing bus services in their local area and this is always a big issue raised during my Roving Surgeries. This Bill would have given Councils real power to step in and re-regulate bus services, to ensure they better met the needs of bus users, addressing the lack of services in rural and more cut off areas.
I will continue to campaign for action in this area but it is a real shame that such a potentially popular measure has failed to receive cross party support.
